Expand Your Life

This week I decided to go running at the UGA Intramural fields for the first time. I have never known exactly where the trails are, and I have always been too afraid to try and find them. Today, however, was such a beautiful day that I felt the urge to be outside. I usually go running in the neighborhoods around my house, but today i felt like doing something different.

I borrowed my neighbor’s big, yellow dog, Clay, and packed him and myself into the car. Clay has more energy than any animal who ever lived and probably ever will live. He could probably run for days on end if you let him. He was so excited to be going somewhere that he practically knocked me over when he saw me (he lives with all boys).

I drove in the direction I thought the trails were in. We passed softball fields and soccer fields, tennis courts and picnics. It didn’t take long for the road to dead-end into a small gravel parking lot. The trails were straight ahead. I couldnt believe how easy it had been to find them. As soon as Clay’s paws hit the dirt path, he was an unstoppable hurricane tearing through the woods. We passed a multitude of interesting people, either strolling with children or running like we were. The sun glinted through the trees and the silence of the woods surrounding us was comforting. Clay’s fast pace and endless enthusiasm encouraged me to run faster. The trails reminded me of the paths I used to run during my cross-country days in high school. Our forty-five minute run took me back to a place long ago, and I felt as if I had been running these trails all year long. Overall, the experience was very therapeutic. I was able to think much more clearly and run with greater ease in the comfort of nature. I will definitely start taking Clay to run at the Intramural fields versus the boring roads around my house. I am very glad I ventured out of my comfort zone and tried something new.